By None on February 2, 2019.
Medicine Hat News
Brayden Tracey sent the hats flying on Friday night at Mosaic Place.
The 17-year-old Moose Jaw Warriors winger netted a natural hat trick to open the game then added an assist to power his squad to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Tracey kicked off the scoring for Moose Jaw when he cut into the Hat zone and beat Hollett over the blocker with a quick release for his 20th goal of the season.
The Tigers countered with 11 shots in the first, but they were unable to get anything past Warriors goaltender Adam Evanoff.
The Warriors tacked onto their lead five minutes into the second period when Tracey cut in on a breakaway and slotted the puck through Hollett’s pads.
Tracey completed the natural hat trick four minutes later when he picked up a feed from Luke Orsmby while entering the zone then beat Hollett with a low shot — giving Tracey his eighth point against Medicine Hat in four games this season.
The offensive onslaught continued just a few minutes later when Keenan Taphorn converted on a power play with Dylan MacPherson in the box for hooking, then Kjell Kjemhus beat Hollett on the backhand five minutes after that to chase the Hat netminder from the crease after allowing five goals on 27 shots.
Mads S¿gaard entered in relief of Hollett and prevented the Warriors from widening the gap, then Ryan Chyzowski broke Evanoff’s shutout bid on a snap-shot from the doorstep — drawing assists from Brett Kemp and 15-year-old affiliate Cole Sillinger — with 10 minutes left in regulation.
While the tally gave Medicine Hat some life, any momentum gained was snuffed out six minutes later when Justin Almeida ripped a shot off the post and past S¿gaard, giving Tracey his fourth point of the night with an assist on the goal.
Evanoff stopped 33 shots to collect the victory and push Moose Jaw to 28-11-6-2 with their second straight win over Medicine Hat and seventh victory in the past eight games.
S¿gaard stopped nine in relief of Hollett. Medicine Hat slipped to 27-18-2-2 with the loss.
The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre Saturday to host the Brandon Wheat Kings at 7:30 p.m.